Tension headaches are considered the most common of type of headache occurring among the widest population. They are characterized by mild, moderate, or intense pain. In extreme cases, they extend to the neck and the region behind your eyes. In some people, tension headaches feel like a tight band around their forehead. Majority of the people experiencing tension headaches also have episodic pain averagely twice every month. In extreme cases, tension headaches last for more than 2 weeks every month and affect up to 3% of Americans.
Overview
Tension headaches are at times, referred to as; stress headaches and affect more women than men. Women are twice likely to be affected than men. While to some people, they come as a clamp squeezing the skull, to others it feels like a tight band tied across their head. Whether episodic or chronic, they can last for as little as 30 minutes to as long as a few days. They are common from around the middle of the day when they begin and grow gradually to affect your regular daily duties.
The sad thing is that although it may reduce in the day, it is almost always there all day. Chronic tension headaches come and go over a longer period compared to episodic ones. Luckily, tension headaches do not stop you from going on with your daily activities. They will not be affecting your vision, balance, or strength.
Approximately 80% of American adults experience these headaches occasionally. Of these, 3% have continuous chronic tension headaches. While episodic tension pain is common and mostly ignored, chronic pain can last up to three months. Some people learn to live it with it.
